Liquid lifter pump



Oct. 23, 1962 J. E. HUBER 3,059,583

LIQUID LIFTER PUMP Filed June 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 23, 1962 J. E. HUBER 3,059,583

LIQUID LIFTER PUMP Filed June 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVEN United States Patent O 3,059,583 LlQUlIl) LIFTER PUMP John E. Huber, 340 Neeb Road, Cincinnati 38, Ohio Filed .lune 27, 1961, Ser. No. 126,461 y1t) Claims. (Cl. 10S- 117) This invention relates to improvements in a liquid lifter pump attachment for drills and the like, adapted to be driven by the drills removably associated therewith as a power source.

Most liquid-lifter pumps are, of course, relatively large in size and have the drive motors permanently associated therewith. There are situations, however, where a relatively small liquid-lifter pump may serve with considerable advantage and ability as a means for pumping liquid, particularly for domestic uses or in small shops. In most homes and shops, portable electric drills are available, and it is the primary object of the present invention to afford a liquid-lift pump that may readily be associated with and driven 'by such portable electricy drills. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to aiord such a liquid-lifter pump that may be driven by portable drills of many different sizes and designs, and a related object is to accomplish this in such a way that the torque reaction of the drill will be absorbed in such a way that the drill as well as the pump are protected against undue physical strain, should there be any vibration. Air powered, or `fuel cell powered portable electric drills may be employed herewith.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a pump, where the pump shaft may be quickly and easily inserted within the chuck jaws of a portable electric drill without the necessity of alerting said drill to accommodate the pump shaft.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a portable assembly for draining the oil from the crankcases of automobiles and boats, `and other liquids from washing machines and the like.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a light weight pump for mounting the pump shaft within the chuck of a portable drill 'whereby the weight of the pump is carried by the chuck of the drill, an inlet hose removably mounted adjacent the bottom and one side of the pump housing while an outlet hose is removably mounted adjacent the bottom and the opposite side of the pump housing, the inherent Istrength of the inlet, or outlet hose being sutiicient ito prevent rotation of the pump housing with respect to the portable electric drill.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of pump housing as set forth, the housing being molded of Zytel nylon resin effecting a housing which is tough, impact resistant, corrosion resistant, and resistant to attack by heat and petroleum products, the interior being smooth whereby expensive machining is eliminated and no finishing is required for the enclosed eccen-trically lobed, ilexible vane impeller of the pump assembled therewith.

And still a further object of this invention is the provision of heat-dissipating means, that is to embody a metal, molded-n plate in the substantially closed end wall of the cavity of the pump housing, making it possible to incorporate a flexible vane impeller within a plastic pump housing where at times a great deal of starting friction, and even some running friction occurs yand thereby developing heat which must -be reduced and substantially eliminated. The plate, or sink is put in physical contact with a bearing holder, having similar characteristics, which serves to conduct the heat away from the inside end wall of the pump.

And still another object of this invention is to assemble a llexible vane type molded neoprene impeller within a Zytel nylon resin housing, or the like, Ithe inside of the ICC pump cavity and the entire impeller having a relatively superficial, or skin impregnation with molybdenum disulde, M082; whereby dry starting friction therebetween is suitably minimized without reducing the flex-life or deteriorating the quality of the neoprene impeller.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a resilient type adapter to be applied upon the imput barb molded on the pump whereby multiple size suction tubes may be used when the occasion requires, and further having means embodied across the said imput barb whereby the smaller suction tubes can not be pushed into the pump housing and into damaging engagement with the impeller.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principle.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the pump constituting my invention shown operatively connected to a portable electric hand drill;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the pump and hand drill assembly in operative use;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View through the pump of this invention, taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 5, showing it assembled with a portable hand drill, the terminal portion of the pump drive shaft being proportioned to be operatively received and engaged by the chuck member of the electric hand drill;

FIGURE 4 is a front plan view of the pump made in `accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged front plan view of the pump shown in FIG. 4, with the cover plate removed showing the impeller, and having inlet and outlet means attached thereto and shown partially in section;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6--6' of FIG. 7;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the impeller made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view through the rubber multiple adapter connector -for use with various sizes of plastic inlet tubes;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the pump made in accordance with this invention and having a removable torque arm secured to the housing of the hand drill; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the cone-shaped screen inserted in the inlet end of the inlet hose, the hose being shown in section'to show method of assembly thereof with the screen.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings, the pump attachment, as indicated `by numeral 15, consists of a plastic pump housing 16 formed with a forward portion 17 with a semicylindrical top wall surface 20, a ilat bottom wall surface 21, two vertically disposed side wall surfaces 22 and 23 with inwardly and angularly disposed lower wall surfaces 24 and 25 connecting the said side wall surfaces 22 and 23 with the bottom wall surface 21; said angularly disposed lower wall surfaces 24 and 25 being formed approximately 45 degrees with the vertical planel of the side wall surfaces 22 tand 23 and formed with integral cylindrical inlet and outlet barbs 26 and 27 respectively,v having peripheral 'bead portionsV 29 upon the terminal ends thereof. The forward portion 17 of the drawing is integrally secured with a rearwardly eX tending truncated, conical shaped wall portion 18, the

. horizontal axis of the forward portion 17 being in horizontal alignment with the horizontal axis of said con- Patented Oct. 23, 1962A ical shaped wall portion. The pump housing 16 embodying the usual pump chamber to receive the pump impeller 32 secured upon a cylindrical impeller bushing 33 and mounted upon the forward end of impeller drive shaft 34 and secured thereto by set screw 35. A cover plate 36 is mounted upon the pump housing 16 for closing the pump chamber 30 and is secured therewith by cover plate screws 37 and a gasket 38 being interposed therebetween for making the chamber liquid tight.

The drive shaft 34 extends rearwardly through the truncated rear end portion of the said pump housing, and is of uniform diameter therethrough, said truncated rear end portion having a horizontal cylindrical bore 40 centrally arranged therein, a bearing housing 41 is secured in said bore 40 and formed with two bearing recesses 42 and 43 adaptable to to receive two Teon sleeve bearings or the like, 44 and 45 of ring conguration, the internal diameter thereof being the same as the diameter of the drive shaft 34 within the bushing 33. As clearly shown by FIGURE 3, the forward end of the drive shaft 34 and said impeller bushing 33 are spaced rearwardly from the cover plate 36, the rear edge of said impeller bushing 33 also being free from the rear wall of said pump chamber 30.

A heat sink and wear plate of suitable metal is molded in and against the closed wall of the pump chamber 30 in order to provide for a heat distribution, or heat-dissipating type of surface. The metal plate is shown as being circular as by the dotted lines in FIG. 5. The heat sink is formed and arranged to be placed in physical contact with bearing holder or housing 41, with or without a heat conductive cement, and bearing 44 adjacent thereto, the bearing holder 41 and bearing 44 having similar characteristics to the sink pl-ate S0 which serves a multiple purpose of helping actually to conduct the heat away from the inside portion of the pump, at the same time to reduce the heat per unit of surface area, the heat absorbed by the sink being conducted through the adjacent metal parts and along through the drive shaft 34 and to the metal chuck member 52 of the hand drill 55. The drive shaft 34 is formed with a rear end portion 53, often referred to as the terminal portion 53 which extends outwardly and rearwardly from the pump housing, said terminal portion 53 being proportioned with reduced diameter to be operatively received and engaged by the chuck member 52 of the electric hand drill motor 55. No details are shown of the chuck construction, nor the manner of the engagement with the said terminal portion 53, inasmuch as the chuck and engaging mechanism are well known to those skilled in the art, and further because a detailed description of such construction is not necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

The matter of assembly requires the neoprene impeller 32 to be secured to the impeller bushing 33 and it is upon the forward end of the drive shaft 34, the impeller being rotatably mounted in the pump cavity 30 of the nylon body or housing 16. The impeller 32 consists of a hub portion 60, six exible vanes 61 with cylindrical lobed end portions 62. The impeller and bushing 33 and the forward end of the shaft 34 each having a vertically threaded bore which are in vertical alignment when properly assembled, and secured together by the set screw 35 extending through all three parts 60, 33 and 34. The longitudinal length of the cylindrical hub portion is slightly greater than the distance between the cover plate and the sink plate 50 whereby said hub portion will be compressed longitudinally when assembled within the chamber 30. The vanes 61 are of sufficient length whereby the lobed end portions 62 are in pressing contact at all times with the linterior cylindrical Wall surface of the chamber 30, resulting in a slight flat portion 65 `at the terminal, or contacting surface of exible vanes lobed portion 62,

thus providing a liquid seal as desired as the vanes turn in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, or clockwise in a modified form. The lowermost interior wall surface of chamber 30 is provided with lobes 68 between the inlet port 66 and outlet port 67, the lobes effecting the liquid being pumped through inlet port 66 to be forced in a counter-clockwise direction within the chamber 30 and out the outlet port 67, the flexible vanes being distorted by the lobes, the pump functioning free of mechanically moving valves of any kind. The tight engagement of the rubber impeller within the plastic chamber walls will cause excessive heat when started in a dry state; therefore the inlet hose should always be placed in contact with the liquid to be pumped before the electric hand drill motor is started for driving the pump. To overcome excessive starting heat, the inside of the cavity 30 and the entire impeller is coated with molybdenum disulfide, M082 to provide a relatively superficial or skin impregnation; only a sufticient amount is used to suitably minimize dry starting friction, so that a satisfactory economical pump can be made but, at the same time, not having it impregnated or built into the rubber compound of the impeller to such an extent as to reduce the flex-life or cause deterioration of the quality of the rubber. The interior surface of a nylon chamber is normally smooth and slippery; however, it does not approach the low friction coeicient of Teflon and/or M052. Teflon and molybdenum disulfide, (M082) have similar low friction coeicients and approach the desirable zero coeflicient.

In normal operation a rubber hose of sutiicient length is attached to each of the barbs 26 and 27, the hose 70 attached to outlet barb 27 being secured in place by a clamp 71. The hose 72 normally attached to the inlet r barb 26, as shown in FIG. 9, does not require a clamp as there is no pressure involved. It is advantageous to insert a cone-shaped strainer 69 within the inlet port of the inlet tube 71, as shown in FIG. l0, the strainer being of large capacity due to its cone shape surface.

When the drill and pump are assembled and used to pump oil from a crank case of a small machine, as shown in FlG. 2, the use of a substantially rigid tube of smaller diameter than the hose 72 is required, this requiring an adapter 75, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8. The adapter 75 is formed of rubber body having a pair of cylindrical portions with a joggle in the outside and inside wall surface, the upper cylindrical portion 77 having an interior diameter slightly less than the exterior diameter of the barb 26 so it can be stretched and arranged in tight engagement with said barb 26. The terminal end of portion 77 is provided with an outwardly extending rim 81 and normal thereto. The lower cylindrical portion '78 is integrally formed with the upper portion 77 with the joggle 79 therebetween, the exterior diameter of portion 78 being substantially equal to the interior diameter of said upper portion 77 and having an internal diameter small enough to resiliently grip a plastic tube 82 inserted therein, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The lower portion 78 is provided with an inwardly projection web 83, said web 83 being adapted to grip tubes having an exterior diameter smaller than the interior diameter of the lower cylindrical portion 7S, yet flexible and resilient to move out of the path of a larger tube.

`Occasionally the electric hand drill and pump assembled together are used Where the inlet or outlet hose is of such length that they do not overcome the torque action tending to cause the pump housing 16 against rotary movement. In such an event, a pump stabilizing arm 85 is provided, as shown in FIG. 9, the arm 85 having a slot 86 in lthe rear end thereof. A clamping band 87 is inserted through slot 86 in the arm 85 `and then arranged about the electric drill housing 88 adjacent the chuck end thereof and tightened thereto. The terminal outer end of arm 85 is arranged to extend between the barbs on the pump housing, resting against `the flat bottom surface 21 thereof. Thus, the pump housing 16 is not dependent upon either of the hoses 70 or 72 to hold the same against rotary movement which would otherwise be imparted thereto by the friction therebetween and the rotary parts therein.

L Heretofore it has been the practice in changing the oil in the crankcase of automobiles, to -run the auto over a pit or raise the same over a rack, and then remove the drain plug to permit the old oil to drain out from the crankcase, following which the plug must be carefully replaced and the crankcase then refilled with fresh oil through the filler pipe. The present invention completely eliminates the necessity for the above time-consuming operations and provides manually portable means enabling anyone to drain the oil from said crankcase with minimum effort. The inlet suction tube or a diameter small enough to t within the fillerpipe, or dip-stick hole, is attached to the pump housing inlet barb 26, and when so attached and inserted into the crank through the filler pipe, functions as the suction line of the pump. The old oil is pumped into a suitable container.

The invention also serves the service men for washing machines, as upon service trips it is generally necessary to remove the wash water from the washing machine before a repair can be made, as the trouble generally occurs during a washing operation. The service man always has an electric drill and by assembling it with this novel pump, -it functions as the ymeans required.

This novel pump and electric hand drill or other type drill combination lends itself readily to a wide variety of uses wherever a temporary pump set-up is required. The above has been thoroughly tested and found -to be completely satisfactory for accomplishment of the objects set forth. Die castings, or other type castings with suitable amount of draft may be used.

While I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my novel pump and electric hand drill arrangement, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A rotary type pump adapted to be detachably connected to an electric hand drill motor, said rotary type pump comprising a molded plastic horizontal type pump housing having a forward end portion with a semi-circular top wall surface annd a flat bottom wall surface and a rear end portion with a truncated cone shaped wall surface, a pumping chamber formed within the forward end portion of said pump housing having a semi-circular interior top wall surface and a flat vertical internal end wall, a removable coverplate secured to the forward end ofl said housing closing the forward end of said pump chamber, a longitudinal cylindrical bore centrally located within said rear end portion, a 'bearing housing mounted within said cylindrical bore with ya pair of bearing recesses therein, a pair of Tellon sleeve bearings assembled within said bearing recesses, a metal drive shaft rotatably supported axially within said pair of sleeve bearings having a forward terminal portion, the said forward terminal portion of said metal shaft extending into said pump chamber, a neoprene flexible vane type impeller embodying liexible iins and having a lrigid impeller bushing in its hub portion, said flexible impeller and its impeller bushing rigidly secured to the forward terminal portion of said drive shaft, saids lins of said impeller having lobed terminal portions adapted to move in frictional contact with the interior peripheral walls of said pump chamber, a metal sink plate secured in said pump chamber and arranged adjacent its internal interior rear wall and in surface contact with the bearing housing and one of said sleeve bearings whereby frictional heat formed within said chamber may be conducted to said sleeve bearing and in turn to said metal shaft -for exterior dissipation of said heat, the rear terminal portion of said shaft extending outwardly and rearwardly from the pump housing and arranged Iand proportioned whereby the driving chuck of such a drill motor may be removably and drivingly coupled therewith, said rotary type pump wholly supported by the said yforward terminal portion of said drive shaft supported by the chuck of such a drill motor having a handle for manually support thereof, and said pump housing including inlet and outlet means integrally formed therewith and communicating with said pump chamber.

2. A rotary type pump attachment adapted to be detachably connected to an electric hand drill motor, said rotary pump attachment comprising a molded plastic horizontal type pump housing having a forward end portion with a semi-circular top wall surface and a rear end portion with a truncated cone shape wall surface, a pumping chamber formed within the forward end portion of said pump housing having a semi-circular interior top wall surface and a flat vertical internal end wall, a removable cover plate secured to the forward end of sa-id housing closing the forward end of said pump chamber, a longitudinal cylindrical bore centrally located within said rear end portion, a bearing housing mounted within said cylindrical bore with a plurality of bearing recesses therein, a plurality of sleeve bearings assembled within said bearing recesses, a metal drive shaft rotatably supported axially within said pair of sleeve bearings having a forward terminal portion and a rear terminal portion, the said forward terminal portion of said metal shaft extending into said pump chamber, a one-piece exible rubber vane type impeller embodying flexible -ns and having a rigid impeller bushing in its hub portion, said liexible impeller and. said impeller bushing secured to the forward terminal portion -of said drive shaft, said lins of said impeller having lobed cylindrical shaped terminal portions adapted to move in frictional contact with the interior peripheral walls of said pump chamber, a metal sink plate secured in said pump chamber and arranged adjacent its integral interior rear Wall and in surface contact with one of said sleeve bearings whereby frictional heat formed within said chamber may be conducted to said sleeve bearing and in turn to said metal shaft for exterior dissipation of said heat, the rear terminal portion of said shaft extending outwardly from the pump housing and proportioned whereby the driving chuck of such a drill motor may be removably and drivingly coupled therewith, said rotary type pump attachment wholly supported by the drive shaft having its rear terminal portion supported by the chuck of such a drill motor having a handle for manually support thereof, and said pump housing including inlet and outlet means integrally arranged therewith and communicating with said pump chamber.

3. A rotary type pump adapted to be detachably connected to an electric hand drill motor, said rotary type pump comprising a molded nylon plastic horizontal type pump housing having a forward end portion with a semicircular top wall surface and a flat bottom wall surface and a rear end portion with a truncated cone shape wall surface, a pumping chamber formed within the forward end portion of said pump housing having a semi-circular interior top wall surface and a at vertical internal end wall, a removable cover plate secured to the forward end of said housing closing the forward end of said pump chamber, a longitudinal cylindrical bore centrally located within said rear end portion, a bearing housing mounted within said cylindrical bore with a pair of bearing recesses therein, a pair of sleeve bearings assembled within said bearing recesses, a metal drive shaft rotatably supported axially within said pair of sleeve bearings having a forward terminal portion and a rear terminal portion, the said forward terminal portion of said metal shaft extending into said pump chamber, a neoprene exible vane type impeller embodying flexible tins having a bushing rigidly secured to the forward terminal portion of said drive shaft, said fins of said impeller having lobed terminal portions adapted to move in frictional contact with the interior peripheral walls of said pump chamber, the whole of said impeller and the interior walls of said chamber being coated with molybdenum disullide to lower the coefficient of friction thereof, a metal sink plate secured in said pump chamber and adjacent its internal interior rear wall and in surface contact with one of said sleeve bearings whereby frictional heat formed within said chamber may be conducted to said sleeve bearing and in turn to said metal shaft for exterior dissipation of said heat, the rear terminal portion of said shaft extending outwardly from the pump housing and proportioned whereby the driving chuck of such a drill motor may be removably and drivingly coupled therewith, said rotary type pump wholly supported by the drive shaft supported by the chuck of such a drill motor having a handle for manually support thereof, and said pump housing including inlet and outlet barbs integrally arranged therewith and communicating with said pump chamber.

4. The rotary type pump in accordance with claim 3 wherein a rubber hose is secured to each of said inlet and outlet barbs and a cone-shaped filter being inserted within the entrance end of the base on said inlet barb.

5. The rotary type pump in accordance with claim 3 wherein said inlet and outlet barbs are provided with terminal bead portions, a rubber multiple-size adapter mounted upon said inlet barb, a rubber hose secured upon said outlet barb, and a plastic tube inserted within said adapter.

6. The rotary type pump in accordance with claim 5 wherein said inlet barb is provided with pin means extending across the interior thereof thereby preventing any plastic tube from passing therethrough.

7. The rotary type pump in accordance with claim 5 wherein said rubber adapter is formed with a plurality of cylinder portions integrally formed in stepped configuration whereby the cylindrical portions are of different diameters to receive tubes of different diameters.

8. The rotary type pump in accordance with claim 7 wherein the entrance end of said rubber adapter is provided with an inwardly extending web portion.

9. A rotary pump adapted to be detachably connected to an electric drill motor having a handle for supporting it, said rotary pump comprising a molded nylon plastic horizontal type pump housing having a forward portion and a rear portion, a pumping chamber arranged longitudinally within the forward portion of said pump housing and having a forward wall portion and a rear wall portion, a longitudinal cylindrical bore centrally 1ocated within said rear end portion of said housing, a bearing housing assembled within said cylindrical bore, a sleeve bearing assembled within said bearing housing, a metal drive shaft rotatably supported axially by said bearing in said bearing housing, said shaft having a forward terminal portion and a rear terminal portion, the said forward terminal portion of said shaft extending into said pump chamber and having a flexible neoprene vane type impeller rigidly secured therein, the rear terminal portion of said shaft extending outwardly from the rear of said molded nylon plastic housing and positioned and proportioned whereby the driving chuck of such a drill motor may be removably and drivingly coupled therewith, said pump chamber embodying a sink plate molded-in its rear plastic wall portion and in contact with said bearing housing whereby frictional heat formed within said chamber may be conducted to said bearing housing and in turn to said sleeve bearing and the metal drive shaft for distributing the heat over a larger surface area thus minimizing the specific heat per unit of area and in that way keeping within the bounds of the softening of the plastic pump housing, said rotary pump wholly supported by the forward terminal portion of said metal drive shaft supported by said bearing in said bearing housing and the chuck of such a drill having such a handle, said molded nylon plastic housing including molded inlet and outlet nylon barbs integrally formed therewith and communicating with said pump chamber, and said pump chamber embodying a removable cover plate mounted with its forward plastic wall portion opposite said sink plate in its rear plastic wall portion.

10. A rotary pump adapted to be detachably connected with an electric drill motor, said rotary pump comprising a molded plastic horizontal type pump housing having a forward portion and a rear end portion, a pumping chamber arranged longitudinally within the forward portion of said pump housing, a longitudinal cylindrical bore centrally located within said rear end portion of said housing, a bearing housing assembled within said cylindrical bore, a sleeve bearing assembled within said bearing housing, a metal drive shaft rotatably supported axially by said bearing in said bearing housing, said shaft having a forward terminal portion and a rear portion, said forward terminal portion of said shaft extending into said pump chamber and having a resilient rubber vane type impeller rigidly secured therein, the rear terminal portion of said shaft extending outwardly from the rear of said plastic pump housing and positioned and proportioned whereby the driving chuck of such a drill motor may be removably and drivingly coupled therewith, said pump chamber embodying a sink plate molded-in its rear wall and in contact with said bearing housing whereby frictional heat formed within said charnber may be conducted to said bearing housing and in turn to said sleeve bearing and said metal drive shaft for distributing the heat over a larger surface area thus minimizing the specific heat per unit of area and in that way keeping within the bounds of the softening of the plastic pump housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS `2,189,356 Briggs Feb. 6, 1940 2,648,287 Thoren et al Aug. 1l, 1953 2,858,769 Doble Nov. 4, 1958 2,911,920 Thompson Nov. 10, 1959 2,988,003 Schmied June 13, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 804,222 Germany Apr. 19, 1951 1,015,632 France Aug. 6, 1952 

